In a column in this week’s Radio Times, the 'EastEnders' actress sets the record straight about her experience on the BBC dance show, which she says has been plain sailing compared to previous shows she has worked on.
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Kellie Bright
She writes: “Let’s get something straight… I’m not a feminist. I’m not usually compelled to write a gushing piece about a group of women who have rather unexpectedly found themselves bonding for life during an extraordinary experience. And yet, here I am.
“So how, you may ask, has a group of such strong women with very different characters, of different ages and backgrounds, managed to bond with such devotion on Strictly?
“What? I hear you cry, no divas? No backstabbing? There must surely be at least one bitch among you! The answer is a resounding no.
She adds: “The secret, I believe, is that we genuinely watch each other’s back and feel we’re in this together.”
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But despite Kellie’s rosy experience on ‘Strictly’, she admits her days working on the ITV drama ‘Bad Girls’ was a very different kettle of fish.
“Throughout my acting career I’ve found myself working in large groups of women quite intensely and sometimes it isn’t easy.
“I particularly remember this being an issue when I joined Bad Girls.
“Most of the cast had been working together for three years when I came along, and I felt I had to prove myself as an actress, but also demonstrate that I wasn’t the kind of woman interested in being top dog.
“Were they threatened and cliquey because they were a group of women and not men? The answer, sadly, is probably.”
Read Kellie’s full column in this week’s Radio Times, out now. www.radiotimes.com
The 'Countdown' presenter announced her split from her husband just weeks after her stint on the show. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Rachel and her partner Pasha Kovalev are dating, however, she remains insistent that 'Strictly' had nothing to do with her marriage split. (credit:Joe Giddens/PA Archive)
Sunetra Sarker(02 of10)
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Sunetra split from her husband of 10 years just before filming for the 2014 series began. (credit:Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images)
Susanna Reid(03 of10)
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Susanna's marriage ended in February 2014, weeks after she finished as a runner-up in the competition. Susanna is still living with her ex, Dominic Cotton, and their two children. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Caroline Flack(04 of10)
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Flackers and boyfriend Jack Street have called time on their relationship, according to reports. The former 'Xtra Factor' presenter dated the music manager for 18 months. (credit:Danny Martindale via Getty Images)
Ben Cohen(05 of10)
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Ben denied rumours that he was romancing his pro partner Kristina Rihanoff, though he later split from his wife Abby days after photos of him and Kristina looking cosy on the tube were posted online. (credit:Steve Thorne via Getty Images)
Matt Di Angelo(06 of10)
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The 'EastEnders' star reportedly first hooked up with Flavia Cacace during their time dancing together on the 2008 series - on which Flavia's boyfriend Vincent Simone was also a dancer.However, they weren't together for long... (credit:Jon Furniss via Getty Images)
Jimi Mistry(07 of10)
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Just a year after getting together with Matt, Flavia ended the relationship after finding love with her new dance partner Jimi. The couple married in 2013. (credit:Dave Hogan via Getty Images)
Joe Calzaghe(08 of10)
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Boxer Joe and pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff initally denied romance rumours when they were paired together in 2009, however Joe split from his girlfriend just weeks later. Joe and Kristina later confirmed that they were a couple, before splitting after four years together. (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Dani Harmer (09 of10)
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'Tracey Beaker' star Dani split from her boyfriend just days after filming began in 2012. (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
Natasha Kaplinsky (10 of10)
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Newsreader Natasha and Brendan were plagued by romance rumours when they were paired up for the first ever series of 'Strictly' in 2004. Despite being insistent that they weer just friends, Natasha and Brendan both split from their partners shortly after winning the series. (credit:MJ Kim via Getty Images)